It’s never too early to start looking ahead to 2025 when it deals with potential transactions. The franchise will have (currently) 25 free agents next season and we will touch on some notable names that will likely get some attention this season to determine their status for next season. Chris Ballard showed his hand a bit with some draft selections, and we will dive into the potential ramifications for each notable player.
Offensive Players
Center Ryan Kelly
A potentially monumental year for Kelly in 2024. He has battled some personal matters and missed some time last season with injury. The franchise drafted Wisconsin center Tanor Bortolini, and it appears he could be the heir apparent as Kelly will command a large number on the salary cap. Kelly could have a career year with starting all 17 games but the drafting of Bortolini really tips the hand of the franchise's plan at center to pair with Anthony Richardson.
Tight End Mo Alie-Cox
Let’s first state, MAC will struggle to make the team this season as the tight end room is full with youthful talent. MAC is getting older and could be a rotational player on a contender looking for some veteran depth. He could retire as well, though unlikely. Ballard has always liked him so I think they will try to do right by him.
Quarterback Joe Flacco
Brought in as a mentor and backup to starter Anthony Richardson. While it was only a one-year deal, Flacco seems dug in to keep playing and become whatever role any time wants him to be going forward. Richardson can learn a lot from Flacco and if this experiment works look for the franchise to continue the small extensions, especially if Richardson becomes injury prone.
Wide Receiver Ashton Dulin
Special teams will become the focal point of Dulin and his impact on this football team. With his injury last season and additions of Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould in the draft, Dulin is back in a crowded room. The team has preached to us his significance on special teams as the “gunner” on returns. If he continues the impact on special teams (especially with the new rules) he could continue to bring value to this football team.
Guard Will Fries
The drafting of new lineman has put the status of Will Fries in question. 4th round pick Bertolini seems to be the replacement for Ryan Kelly next season but where does 3rd round pick Goncalves fit in now? My most simple theory is Braden Smith may be the next casualty on the line. His contract is up in 2026 with a dead money reduction to $3 Million next season. Starting LT Raimann also will be due for an extension in 2025 as well. Ballard cannot justify keeping Raimann, Nelson, Kelly and Smith on massive contracts, he is too frugal for that mindset. Look for the Colts to keep Fries on mid-level deal while extending Raimann and having some time to bring along the youth of Blake Freeland, Goncalves and Bertolini.
Defensive Players
Defensive End Dayo Odeyingbo
The first contract year of his career has arrived for Dayo. After a slow start from his Achillies injury suffered at Vanderbilt, Dayo had his best season to date. Not only did he play all 17 games but he finished with a career-high 8 sacks. His ability to swing both on the edge and interior have helped bring value to not only the position but the team itself. Ballard loves to keep around valuable rotational defensive lineman (see Tyquan Lewis) and Dayo is no different.
Linebacker EJ Speed
Speed signed his second NFL contract this past offseason and is due for his potential 3rd in 2025. Speed had a terrific season last year and he really stepped up after the Colts released Shaq Leonard. Speed finished second on the team behind Zaire Franklin in tackles with 102 tackles. Don’t expect his role to change any this coming season as he will continue his starting role and fully expect him to sign a fresh extension sooner rather than later.
Safety Julian Blackmon
Blackmon started the season strong and finished on the IR with a season ending shoulder injury. He signed a late one-year deal after most of the safeties signed some underwhelming contracts and it appears that the safety market might be dealing with the same issues that the running backs were dealing with. I do believe Blackmon is wanted and valued by Ballard and this organization, but he truly wanted to see if he could get more somewhere else after taking visits with Buffalo and San Francisco. The Colts secondary has been very inconsistent this past season and Blackmon has a terrific opportunity to grab a long term extension with a career year.
Cornerback Dallis Flowers
Even after missing 3 quarters of the season with a ruptured Achillies, Ballard continues to have belief in him and his abilities. As mentioned with Blackmon, the inconsistency with the secondary last season gives Flowers an opportunity to make an impact on the team. The core has a lot of youth even with Kenny Moore returning, if he can get healthy, he could really separate himself along with JuJu Brents as the other outside starting cornerback. Don’t expect him to go back to being a returner as Anthony Gould is expected to take over so health will be key for Flowers if he expects to get his second NFL contract.